Investing.com -- U.S. stocks are mixed on Friday as evidence of U.S. economic resilience is stoking fears about interest rates remaining higher for longer.
At 11:19 ET (15:19 GMT), the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 30 points or 0.1%, while the S&P 500 was down 0.2% and the NASDAQ Composite was down 0.5%.
The main equities indices closed lower Thursday after the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yield climbed to its highest level since October 2022 in the wake of the hawkish minutes from the Federal Reserve’s July meeting, pointing to interest rate hikes ahead.
Risk sentiment has also been hurt in recent days by China's sluggish economic recovery and growing concerns about its property market.
The blue-chip Dow closed almost 300 points or 0.8% lower Thursday. It is down 2.3% so far this week, on pace for its worst week since March.
Jackson Hole symposium looms large
The Fed is still widely expected to stand pat in terms of interest rate hikes at its next policy meeting in September, but still, elevated inflation levels and data showing a resilient economy have raised expectations that there could be another hike before the end of the year.
Fed officials are meeting next week in Jackson Hole, Wyo., and Chair Jerome Powell’s speech is eagerly awaited as it could give hints about the bank’s thinking heading into that next policy meeting.
“The backdrop for the speech will still be a Chair who may see glimmers of hope in the recent CPI data but remains concerned over restoring price stability,” analysts at UBS said, in a note.
“In other words, the FOMC is not out of the inflation woods yet, similar to the tone in the July FOMC meeting minutes,” UBS added.
Quarterly earnings continue
Agricultural equipment maker Deere & Company (NYSE:DE) beat expectations and raised its outlook, but the stock was down 3.8% on concerns about how long the boom in the farming sector can last.
Cosmetics giant Estée Lauder (NYSE:EL) was falling 1.6% as its profit outlook for the full year came in below expectations.
Additionally, Ross Stores (NASDAQ:ROST) stock climbed 6% after the discount store raised its annual sales and profit forecasts after beating quarterly estimates, helped by customers shopping for cheaper clothing.
Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT) stock also climbed 2% after the semiconductor equipment maker offered up a buoyant forecast as chip demand picks up and governments spend billions on subsidies.
Crude set to end prolonged weekly winning streak
Oil prices steadied Friday, but look set to end a seven-week winning streak on concerns of slowing growth in China, the world’s largest crude importer, as well as the potential of higher interest rates from the Federal Reserve.
Crude prices saw some strength on Thursday, rising from a two-week low after China’s central bank said it will keep markets flush with liquidity to help shore up economic growth.
However, both contracts were set to lose over 3% this week after having rallied for the past seven weeks post-extended supply cuts by major producers Saudi Arabia and Russia.
(Peter Nurse and Oliver Gray contributed to this item.)